Transform matrix to adjacency list

Last updated: August 3, 2025

Quick Overview

Convert the given string to tree structure following the specified rules.

Goldman Sachs
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Goldman Sachs
August 3, 2025
Software Engineer
Take-home Project
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

27

3

1,163 solved


Convert the given string to tree structure following the specified rules.

This coding problem is frequently asked during Take-home Project at Goldman Sachs. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Goldman Sachs expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Recognize the underlying problem pattern (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS, etc.)
  • Discuss multiple approaches and trade-offs before coding
  • Implement an optimal solution with clean, production-quality code
  • Handle all edge cases including boundary conditions and invalid input
  • Optimize both time and space complexity with clear justification
  • Test your solution systematically with well-chosen examples
Key Topics to Cover
Graph algorithms and traversal
Tree structures and recursion
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Sorting and searching
Edge cases and input validation
Data structure selection and trade-offs
How to Approach This
  1. Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
  2. Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
  3. Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
  4. Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
  5. Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • Can you solve this in a single pass?
  • How would you test this solution thoroughly?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • What happens if the input contains duplicates?
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